Ho`omaluhia Botanical Garden
Ho`omaluhia in Hawaiian meant "to make a place of peace and
tranqulity." It is a 400 acre botanical garden that is geographically
planted. Many of the plants are endangered and rare. The garden is
located on the Windward or East side of O`ahu. It's 400 acres hug the
lower slopes of the Ko`olau mountans, and is concidered a high
rainfall area.
The geographical regions of the plantings
are:
Africa, Hawaii, India, Malaysia, Melanesia, The
Philippines, Polynesia, Sri Lanka, and Tropical
America
The garden was designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers to provide flood protection for Kane`ohe Town. Besides the
beautiful plants there is a 32 acre lake (no swimming allowed) which
rises and falls with the rain.
The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. It is only
closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Facilities include a Visitors
Center with lecture room,aexhibition hall, workshops and botanical
library. There is also a day use area, and campgrounds.
It is a relativly new garden only about 10 years old. Frequent
visitors can see the changes as the plants mature.